Stargate Revealed: Politics and Power 5
by livi2jack

Summary: Jack deals with assassins. Earth politics start chaos. The team has to unite and help Jack go to ground while they set a trap.

Rating: T- some violence

Category: Action/Adventure, Drama, Humor, Mystery, Holiday, Point Of View, Hurt/Comfort, Other
Season: SG-1 Season Nine+
Related SG-1 Episode(s): 606 Abyss, 720 Inauguration, 901 Avalon, Part 1
Related Atlantis Episode(s): 201 The Siege, Part 3

Featured Character(s): Jack O'Neill, Daniel Jackson, Samantha Carter, Teal'c, Cameron Mitchell, Hank Landry, George Hammond, and President Hayes

Holiday: Thanksgiving

Author Notes: Spoilers all thru Season 9.
Feedback is requested.

Aliens have come to Earth revealing the secret of the Stargate. Earth is trying to cope. But the aliens have an agenda. Jack is up to his neck in politics and intrigue. The fate of Earth is in his hands.


Chapter Five-Plots

Cam Mitchell knew he was watching a train wreck from his grandma's living room. Only it was an assassination attempt live at the White House reception for Lady Anna. The President was down, covered in blood. Lady Anna covered General O'Neill with her body. Yes, that was amazing. The little woman was trying to protect O'Neill. And somebody was shot real time by one of the guards. Cam watched the chaos on screen. The announcer was screaming, "the President is down." People were running in all directions yelling. The Secret Service tried to surround the alien, waiving weapons at her. She spread her body and arms in front of O'Neill calling them barbarians. She didn't understand they were after her. The General was yelling something, maybe at them or maybe at her. And then the live feed was cut. He felt sick. Mitchell picked up the phone and called the SGC for his orders. Finally, his grandmother had nothing to say.

The chaos on the TV showed all hell breaking loose at the White House. Samantha Carter dropped her glass of wine on her brother's new carpet. There on the TV, someone tried to assassinate Jack. At least, that's what she thought she heard the assassin scream. The name Ba'al came through. Ba'al and Jack had a peculiar history. At present, Ba'al was the Supreme System Lord. He hated Jack. Their history was legendary. Sam knew the System Lords had dispatched ashraks against Teal'c and Jack. Goa'uld ashraks were assassins of the highest caliber. And one just got through all that new security and the force field. If that was true, everyone was in big trouble.


Sam walked out of the room to make a call on her cell phone. She needed to contact the SGC for her orders. Maybe the Daedalus could transport her to General O'Neill's location. Sam took out the phone to call and noticed it was odd. But she was in a rush and just used the speed dial to Landry's office.

"This is Lt. Colonel Samantha Carter. Connect me to General Landry, NOW." Sam listened and commanded the voice at the other end; "no airman, NOW or I will have your butt sent to Greenland to scrub toilets." A few moments passed and Landry picked up. "Sir, Carter, calling in. Can the Daedalus transport me?" She listened. "Right two minutes. I have to tell my brother I am leaving." She hung up.

"Mark, I have to go." Carter was marching through the house into the living room where the family was glued to the TV. "I can't stay." She left in a flash of light. Her brother's family gaped at the space where she had been.


In high Earth orbit, Colonel Steven Caldwell, commander of the Daedalus, received word that Carter and Mitchell had arrived at the White House. He and the rest of the crew watched the chaos on the monitors. The commander of the Daedalus wondered if the Commonwealth assassins had tried to kill the President, O'Neill, or Lady Anna. They all knew assassins were after her. But why would they kill the other two, unless they just screwed up? Three were dead and one was injured. Pretty light casualties for that scene.

"Sir, I have cleaned up the audio. You should listen to this, sir." Major Gant played the audio again. They all heard the assassin scream O'Neill was the target of Ba'al. Well, that explained it. Everyone knew about the history and bad blood between the General and Ba'al. Ba'al captured O'Neill three years ago when Jack had been host to a Tok'ra. The Tok'ra went after his girlfriend in Baal's fortress and got caught. The coward left O'Neill to his fate and squirmed away. As a result, Jack was tortured to death over and over for information by Ba'al. No one knew how many times Jack died and was revived in a sarcophagus, not even Jack. But Jack did escape. In the end, Jack led the coalition that defeated the Goa'uld. He was a wanted man. In view of that fact, the explanation that Ba'al ordered it made sense.

"Major, get me a com link to the White House. I want to speak to General O'Neill or Hammond, or anyone in security." Caldwell thought a moment. "Why aren't they asking us to transport the President to the hospital?"

"Yes, sir. I have already reached the White House. The White House Chief of Staff is online now." Gant switched to audio.

"This is Colonel Caldwell, commander of the Daedalus. Do you need assistance transporting the President to the hospital or to the SGC?"

"No, thank god. Colonel Caldwell, the President is fine. He got knocked down is all. His Kevlar vest stopped the bullet. We killed the assailant. The situation is coming under control. But The Lady will not lower her force field because she is protecting General O'Neill."

"Roger that, Mr. Wasserstein. We are monitoring the situation and are standing by. Caldwell out." He turned to Major Gant and asked her to call the SGC.


Lady Anna, Royal Lady of the Star Commonwealth of Planets, Ambassador to Earth, Third Lord of the Commonwealth Admiralty, Judge of the People, and fifteen other titles, stood her ground before a dozen crack troops pointing weapons at her and Lord O'Neill. Her royal person protected O'Neill. Her personal shield protected them both.

"I'm ordering you to stand down." General O'Neill spoke to the troops pointing weapons. "Now." They slowly lowered the weapons. "Anna, please, turn off the shield." Jack could not understand how all this had happened. "You are making this worse."

"They can not be trusted, My Lord General. I am not the enemy. And I am losing my patience." Anna was ready to do something really nasty. "This insult is too much. They should be protecting me, not threatening me. Is this how your world offers its protection to the Most Royal Great-great-granddaughter of His Celestial Majesty? Lord O'Neill, you have gone too far." She was seething. He knew it.

General Hammond took stock of the situation. The crowd was out of the room. The medics had the President sitting up. He had the wind knocked out of him, and maybe a few broken ribs. But the blood on him belonged to the two Secret Service Agents who died protecting him. Lady Anna was right, to a point. Hammond heard the assassin say something about Ba'al and O'Neill. But no one could be certain just yet if it was a ruse by the alien here tonight. Maybe the target really was the President and the other was a cover story. But diplomacy took precedence until things got sorted out.

"Lady Anna, we apologize for all this. I don't know what to say. There aren't enough words." Hammond took charge of the scene. "Mr. President, can you walk?"

"Yes." Hayes turned to Lady Anna. "Please accept my most abject apologies. There aren't enough words to express my regret that you have been treated so badly. We have failed miserably to keep our promise to you. I am so very sorry." Lady Anna did not respond. She was too angry. And she did not lower her personal shield. President Hayes knew the evening had to go on. "My Lady, I think you know I must continue the event to reassure the public. And we should appear together to reassure everyone you had nothing to do with it. Please consent to accompany me to the Press Room where we can make a statement to the world. I promise these men will protect you with their lives." The President looked awful. What a mess. His guards helped him rise, then they steadied him.

What a bunch of incompetent imbeciles, thought Anna. Lady Anna considered her options. From a political point of view he was right. She would resume the event in his position. He had no choice. As for herself, she didn't need problems here. What she needed was answers. Had the Goa'uld defeated her shield technology? More immediately, these savages had gone way too far by threatening her in this disaster. And O'Neill had been so insolent when she arrived at the SGC that she hardly knew him. Worse, the President's representative had allowed the insult. O'Neill had demanded that she relinquish her personal protection in the most coarse and brutish way. She had played along hoping to accomplish her mission. It was a desperate gamble and nothing could divert her, not even the rudeness of these barbarians. There was much more at stake. But this display of disrespect could not be tolerated because it put her life in danger. These people have no idea what they were doing.

Jack knew why she did not respond. He'd been thinking about his behavior towards her. She was after all a representative and ambassador from a very powerful race. He couldn't understand himself. Daniel had really laid into him afterwards. The Secretary of State formally protested. So Jack spoke to her softly.

"Ma'am, I am so sorry. I must apologize for my behavior at the Gate. I don't know what got into me." Jack knew she had saved his life. And not just saved it with the shield, she threw her body in front of his without hesitation. Maybe she even saved the President. "I owe you my life, again." His expression was complete remorse. "I had no right to talk to you that way. Can you ever forgive me?"

Lady Anna regarded him with fury in her eyes, but she said nothing.

A man walked up to Hammond and spoke quickly and quietly. Hammond acknowledged the report.

"Seems Ba'al may have had a hand in this according to our record. Nevertheless, events are still unclear. Maybe the equipment worked, maybe it was by-passed, and maybe the man was a plant."

Hammond looked over at the President holding his side. Hayes was in pain. Even with the Kevlar vest, taking a bullet to the torso had to hurt a man of his age. "A doctor is on the way. I must urge you. Mr. President, you must address the press right away. Even when President Reagan was shot, he stood and waved to the camera as he entered the hospital. You must do the same."

Lady Anna, the Supreme Military Leader of 38 billion human beings in 26 star systems regarded O'Neill for a moment. They had to get out of here. It was possible her own people did this. In her opinion, this was an attempt on her life and perhaps also on Lord O'Neill's. Her preparations on this world were not in place yet. Even with a three-month head start, it would be difficult to make her plan work. She needed more time. But these barbarians had to make amends. Her face was a mask concealing her fury. Billions of lives hung in the balance. She had to establish her authority. O'Neill saw her determination and her anger in her eyes.

"Mr. President, I have an idea." She kept her eyes on Jack. "Will you listen?" The President walked over to where she and Jack stood. "Mr. President," Anna began and turned towards Hayes. "More happened here than we understand right now. But it is clear to me that you cannot protect me in the usual way. And I believe, that Lord O'Neill is a target as well."

As Anna gathered her thoughts, the others waited in silent respect. "Our enemy's real purpose is to destroy our alliance. We are strong together." Lady Anna paused to judge reactions. Good they understood her reasoning. "We must bind ourselves together in this crisis and stand together publicly tonight." Then she turned on the President with her fury.

"But understand me clearly. I will not tolerate your disrespect in the future. I have been insulted, abused, assaulted, and disrespected on a level that defies understanding. Yet, I have never offered any insult or injury to you or your people." Anna paused to take stock. She didn't like what she saw in these men's demeanor. "In fact tonight, I just saved Lord O'Neill's life and your own. I extended my shield as far as I could to protect you, Mr. President."

The men in the room became even more uncomfortable. They didn't realize that fact.

"More importantly, I have extended to Earth my protection in a most dire situation. Had I not brought my resources to bear on our enemy, this planet would be under attack even now."

Each man saw her outrage. But trusting such a powerful alien came too hard. They also knew she had an agenda that probably did not match their own. Lady Anna regarded her ambassador, sadly. He had failed her too and he knew it. His shame covered his expression.

"What can we do, ma'am? We can't change the past but we can change the future." President Hayes knew he had to salvage the situation. Whatever the truth really was, here in front of him was a truly outraged, powerful, noble lady who had acted with honor. She was an ambassador. That made her untouchable and immune from his rules.

"You will help me." Lady Anna's gravitas took over the assembly. Her gaze did not waiver. Hayes nodded. "You will help me set a trap for our enemies. They will try again, perhaps several times. I propose that Lord O'Neill and I blend in with the general population until you can construct that trap. My ambassador will give you all the help he can. We shall make available to you state of the art equipment and technical support. You will not share our technology with the other powers on this planet without my express permission." Lady Anna let her strength fill the room. "Let the assassins come at us. But let us be the hunters not the hunted."

President Hayes did not know what to say. This woman was incredible. He had met many persons with charisma but she was by far the most impressive. He looked at O'Neill. "What do you think, General? Can you go to ground until we have plans in place?"

"No problem, sir. I request permission to have my team work with me. We can set a trap for sure." O'Neill looked back at Anna. She never ceased to surprise him. "Are you sure, ma'am? I shall do all I can for you, but, we cannot provide for you on your level." He searched her face. He saw total resolve.

"This plan is a special operation, your specialty. You are the best," Lady Anna answered O'Neill. "And we can add to your people's abilities to catch our assailants. Then we can determine who is really in control. If we work together, we can do this." Her words were stirring. "Our enemies are bent on destroying our alliance. That would bring destruction to us all. But we know our course is the right one. Let us stand together."

"It could work, sir." Hammond added. "We have the advantage of being on our own territory. There could be more than one group. It could be the Goa'uld or her own opposition. Or even people on this world being used by others. But they are already here. I did not expect that General O'Neill would be a target. But it is your call."

"Ma'am, I still need you to cooperate tonight and several times more. Will you grant us your patience? My Lady, our people are not accustomed to your kind of formality. If you do this, you will have to accept our ways, beginning with the media out there." Hayes pointed to the doorway. "How would you like to proceed?"

"First, I would remove these men to our medical facilities. We may yet save them. Then we might learn something from the assailant." Hayes nodded in agreement. Anna used her communicator. In a flash the three bodies vanished. Then, Lady Anna drew herself up to her full authority and force of personality. "Mr. President, you will never again act towards me as an enemy."

"My Lady, we shall help you anyway we can. Jack you have a go. And now, ma'am." President Hayes extended his arm to her. She smiled and composed herself to meet the public. She was indeed a regal figure in a blood stained gown. They entered the Hall together. The crowd began to applaud. Then it became thunderous. Jack took his place to her right and one half step behind.


The men gathered at the U.N. Secretary General's penthouse were ecstatic. Nothing could have pleased them more. An assassination attempt on the President of the United States on live television carried worldwide played right into their agenda. They were immediately on their cell phones with their aides or superiors. Capitalizing on this turn of events was urgent.

The men gave instructions for their media to begin a blitz of alien hysteria along with America bashing. The competence of the United States to handle these aliens had to be called into question. Relentless speculation as to the real motives of the aliens would add fuel to the fire. They didn't care how bizarre the claims became. The ignorant masses in their countries would bend to their will. The outcry would be heard around the world. And the Stargate would have to be relinquished to U.N. control, or rather their own control.


Mrs. Kinsey was in shock. The whole spectacle was too, too horrible. She had to go to bed. Her husband, the former Vice-President to President Hayes, gnashed his teeth that he was not still the Vice-President. He would be President right this minute if not for that fool O'Neill. One way or the other, Kinsey would take that arrogant no good soldier down. Kinsey picked up the phone and hit the speed dial. His contact on the other end just said hello. "This is your friend. I think we should talk again." Kinsey listened and hung up satisfied. O'Neill was a dead man. He poured himself another drink and brooded all night.
At the White House, Ambassador Aaron of the Commonwealth watched his Lady handle the barbarian media. He was proud. She was composed and confident. The unthinkable had happened before his eyes. His Lady and Lord O'Neill were the targets of an assassin. All the security was for naught. Fortunately, the barbarian's leader wasn't dead and recordings indicated the Goa'uld had a hand in it. Aaron knew the situation had ratcheted up now after Lord O'Neill became a target as well. It was sacrilege on an unknown scale. Ambassador Aaron's first duty was to clean house at the Embassy. No one would sleep tonight. Then he would have to do a penance publicly before the King. But not before he apologized to Lord O'Neill. He'd be lucky if Lady Anna only exiled him.
Emmett Bregman sat in stunned silence in a Washington bar. This turn of events was incredible. And, he had no part in any of it. Since the disastrous meeting with Lady Anna on board the 'O'Neill,' three months ago, he was persona non grata all over Washington. His documentary, 'Heroes' aired after the President's speech to Congress the night the President publicly acknowledged the Stargate. But his interview with the alien went very badly and he was removed from the ship in disgrace. Actually, she never answered any of his questions. And she mistook him for the President. But no matter, it should have been made clear to her what was to be expected beforehand by the military. They screwed up, not he.

Next to him, a man began to talk wondering if the President was really dead and this was some kind of imposter made by the aliens. Bregman snorted in disbelief. But a woman on the other corner of the bar took up the idea. She thought the man on the TV was not really the President making a speech to show he was ok. No. That was a body double. The government was covering up as it always did. The bartender took another look at the screen. His opinion was that the whole Stargate was fiction dreamed up in Hollywood. Someone else reminded the crowd about the show, 'Wormhole Xtreme' a few years back. The show was cancelled after only the pilot aired, but no matter. Suddenly, everyone was speculating that some giant conspiracy was at work here.

"Um, I' telling you I have SEEN the Stargate in action. It is real, as real as it gets. I spent months at Stargate Command making a documentary. Maybe you saw it, 'Heroes?' And, phew, I saw people go through it and come out of it. They let me go through once to show me how it works. Don't go there about that Hollywood nonsense." Bregman shook his head and waved his hands level in front of himself. "That's just crazy talk. I mean crazy stupid would be the word. I'm telling you all, it's real."

The man next to him growled, "who you calling crazy, stupid? You little runt." Someone threw a wadded up napkin at him from across the bar. Someone else pitched a handful of peanuts at him. A woman walked up and looked at him, then threw her drink in his face. The man next to him told him to take a walk. Before Bregman knew it, two bouncers ejected him from the bar. He hit the pavement, still proclaiming the truth of the Stargate.

All of a sudden the idea hit him. There was a story in this insanity.


In a cabin outside of Hayden Lake, Idaho, several tough looking men watched the events unfold in the White House. Generally speaking, they had no love for the Federal Government. But, none of them were too happy about aliens visiting Earth. Hosting one in the White House was just wrong. And this alien was especially bad. She wanted to start mixed marriages with the locals. That fact was not gleaned from official news. No, the internet was buzzing about the list of alien demands. The men in the room muttered in anger.

Some of the men were appalled that the United States of freaking America wanted to form some kind of alliance with these abominations. No one bought the story that these were really humans descended from ancient peoples. These were A.L.I.E.N.S. and there was no way to sugar coat it. They had shown up in their big ships, and that's a fact.

"You know what makes me sick, boys?" The bearded man with the cold eyes and the gravelly voice looked around the table at each face. "What makes me sick is one of our own touching that thing and making eyes at it, like it was human. That's a freaking United States Air Force General." Heads nodded and murmurs of agreement followed.

"Aw, maybe he was just ordered to do it, Fred." The blond one had a gentle streak. "He was just showing everyone how decent we are to everyone. No matter what they are."

"I say it matters what they are. You stupid or something, asshole?" Fred was pushing his racial purity agenda. The Aryan Nation and other white supremacist hate groups had large numbers living in Idaho. "The Net says he spent three whole months with them. Maybe they changed him somehow."

"What do you mean, changed him somehow, Fred?" The one in the collarless shirt took a pull from his beer.

"I'm saying we don't know what went on while he was gone. And nobody does. He either doesn't know either or can't tell anyone." Fred dragged on his cigarette. "Or maybe he isn't really one of us anymore. Maybe he is one of them."

"Aw that's crazy talk outta some science fiction movie. You should go to Hollywood, Fred." The man in the plaid shirt liked to challenge their so-called leader. "Next thing you'll be saying is the Stargate is a hoax. But how do you explain that big ole spaceship they had over the Pentagon?"

"Weather balloon." Everyone laughed at that old chestnut.

"My point is you can't trust this general. Either he is not who he says he is, or he has been compromised, or he is part of a government cover-up. There, I've said it straight." Fred looked around defying anyone to challenge him.

Even Plaid Shirt said nothing when Fred got that look on his face. Fred had killed people for no reason except the color of their skin. Plaid Shirt didn't want to kill anyone. Telling them to leave and go someplace else was good enough. This bunch wasn't having any mixing of racial lines. And aliens, well, these aliens had baggage. Such things didn't sit well here in Idaho.

"So what do we do about it anyway?" The blond boy looked around. "Say hey, Mr. General, sir, we don't like you making goo-goo eyes at that alien woman-thing?" Everyone snorted in laughter.

"We make an example so they understand in Washington. See ya around." Fred left. He needed to post a message on one of the boards online.


At the White House, the reception continued. Not everyone was still there, but the crowd managed well enough. In that crowd, Daniel Jackson kept turning over the events in his head. Something about all this just did not add up. How could this event have been so compromised? He moved through the reception over to Jack.

"What can I do for you, Dr. Jackson?" Jack was wondering when Daniel would come over.

"Jack, I've just got to know. Was the assailant a Goa'uld?" O'Neill shook his head no. "I thought so. So I'm thinking he was under some kind of mind control."

"We don't know that, yet. Commonwealth doctors have not returned him." Jack wanted to return to the more important guests. "Oh you think that it is possible he was a zantac?"

"Zatarc, not zantac, Jack. I don't know. It's possible. The Goa'uld were on Earth for many months. They could have programmed him." Daniel replied.

"But don't zatarcs kill themselves afterwards?" Jack remembered the whole incident at the SGC five years ago. Lt. Astor killed herself after submitting to zatarc testing. Major Graham did it after trying to kill the Tok'ra leader Perseus. Martouf, the Tok'ra, also tried to kill himself, but Sam had to finish it.

"Usually," Daniel answered. "I'm just thinking out loud here, but what if Ba'al knew the other agents would kill his assassin?" Daniel paused. "Or maybe he has refined the process."

"Sounds too complicated, even for Ba'al." Jack was not sure.

"Which one is too complicated?" Daniel asked him.

"What?" Jack replied.

"Which one is too complicated? Ba'al knew his agent would be killed? Or he refined the process?" Daniel was confused.

"The first one I think. Or maybe we shot him before he could kill himself." Jack remembered other mind control techniques they encountered. "Maybe it's like the Hathor stuff or the Seth stuff, what was it called? Nyquill?"

"Seth used nishta." Daniel had a flash of memory about that whole nightmare as Hathor's love toy. Ugh. "But you may have something. Thanks."

"Ok Daniel, get Landry to call the Tok'ra to see if we can borrow their zatarc detector. And, have someone tell Teal'c what's going on. He may have heard something." Jack smiled and wandered off. He kept thinking how he would go to ground with a woman as impossible as Lady Anna. It was not a pleasant prospect. Or maybe it was. He wasn't sure. She kept him off balance.


At George Washington University Medical Center a short distance from the White House, the nurses screamed and ran down the hall. The patient in the emergency room just disappeared in front of their very eyes. The shrieking brought the Secret Service Agents running. Guns were pulled out on the ready. The nurses just pointed and blathered incoherently about a person disappearing. The Agents checked the room for their injured teammate. Then they called in the abduction.
The reception inside the White House continued. Outside, Sam Carter ran into Cam Mitchell. Both had transported to Washington to form up the team with Daniel and Jack. After showing their I.D.'s to enter, they caught up with Daniel as he exited the Green Room.

"Daniel, wait up." Sam called out. Daniel spun around to see them coming down the Hall.

"Sam, thank goodness. Mitchell." Daniel nodded.

"Where's the General?" Mitchell looked around not seeing Jack. "Is he in conference with the big wigs?"

"Um no, no, he's dancing with The Lady." Daniel looked around to see who was nearby. "We need to talk. In here is good." They went back into the Green Room. In 1962, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy redecorated the White House. She rescued many antiques from storage and turned the President's residence into a showcase. The three of the first floor reception rooms were done by color; red, green, and blue. In the Green Room, Daniel brought the other two up to speed.

"So we have been assigned to set a trap for the bad guys, only there may be multiple bad guys. And they may all have different targets and agendas. Some are after the Lady. Some are after Jack. Some are after both. Some want to destroy this new alliance. Until things are in place, Jack and Lady Anna have to go on the run as it were." Daniel took a breath. He was speaking really rapidly because he was upset.

"What does 'on the run' mean to someone with all her technology?" Sam asked him. "She can move about better than we can."

"Yes, but so can the bad guys. That's where we have the advantage. We are on our own turf. They will be playing catch up to us. And Lady Anna has offered us whatever we need to do the job." Daniel saw Mitchell frown. "Right now, we have to pick a starting point and get our gear ready. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. The President will host Lady Anna and Jack as planned to show nothing is wrong and that we don't suspect Lady Anna of orchestrating this attack. It's already being speculated by the Talking Heads on TV. Afterwards, those two have to disappear."

Mitchell sighed. "You should send to some beach with warm water, white sand, and pretty girls in string bikinis." Carter gave him a dirty look. "Just a thought."

They went to stand and watch the proceedings. It was a gala affair. And each one wondered who could be the zatarc in that room.

It had been a long time since The Lady had danced. Thinking back, it had been since her husband died seven years ago. At least, O'Neill was a decent partner. He held her gently and didn't step on her feet. These Earth waltzes were now all the rage on her planet. So she had dutifully learned to dance it. With the adrenaline rush subsiding, Lady Anna realized she was tired. The day had started back at her Capital planet. Since then, she had traveled on a starship, through several Stargates, been searched at the SGC, and now she was at this awful event.

It was time to call it a day. She addressed the President to take her leave. They exchanged public pleasantries. She promised to be back the next afternoon for the Thanksgiving holiday dinner. Calling O'Neill to her side, Lady Anna activated her transporter. She and Jack disappeared together. Soon she would continue her plan to set her traps. At least now, she had the Earth forces working with her in full. Tomorrow, they would go to ground, as Jack put it.

Anna walked casually toward the pink house with the palm trees swaying in the afternoon breeze. The door opened and the attendant bowed deeply. She entered not bothering to see if he was coming. Here we go again, thought Jack. It was hot outside and he was dressed for winter. He loosened his tie and took off his jacket. Well, there was nothing for it. He walked inside, too. It had been a really bad day.


An hour later, Sam, Daniel, and Mitchell sat around the conference table with General Landry at the SGC. With the Daedalus in orbit, getting around was less and less of a problem. The Asgaard transporter worked like a charm. And soon, Lady Anna's gift of a transporter between the SGC and the Pentagon would be up and running. At the briefing, they told him about the plan to have General O'Neill and Lady Anna go to ground while traps were set for the bad guys. But the questions of who was behind the attack were not settled. No one had a good answer for tonight's events.

"But why would an ashrak suicide like that? Usually, they have more finesse and an exit strategy. This shooting made no sense." Carter argued.

"Maybe it wasn't an ashrak, but a zatarc." Daniel insisted again. "We should call the Tok'ra and ask them to bring the zatarc detector."

"For what? The guy is dead." Mitchell objected.

"We had a report that he and the two "dead" agents are alive, barely. They are up in Lady Anna's ship. Their medicine is way more advanced than ours." Landry interrupted. "We can test the assassin if he revives. But that doesn't mean we don't have more of these, these, um, zatarcs."

"But sir, you need to review specific memories to determine if someone is a zatarc. We would have to review many months of memories for each person. It would be like finding a needle in a haystack." Carter tried to explain it patiently. "Besides, I don't think it would work. Think about it. The man did not try to kill himself afterwards. This time it was different."

"Well, maybe he did not have the chance to kill himself because he was killed first." Mitchell couldn't believe they were wasting time.

Daniel was playing with his cell phone. "Anyone notice that your cell phone is different? Mine is. I'm guessing it's not an ordinary phone." Daniel opened his phone. "Lemme see yours, Sam?" She pulled out her phone. It looked like Daniel's. " Cam, lemme see yours." Cam handed it over. It was the same as the other two. "Ok, mystery solved. They switched our phones." He pushed some buttons. "They even re-loaded our information from our old ones. Considerate." Daniel pushed his glasses back up his nose. "I'm guessing we can call Jack anytime we want." He dialed.

"The more I think about it, the more I am convinced it was something like Nishta. It fits the profile. There was access and it is undetectable." Carter was satisfied. "We know what to do about that. Just give the suspect an electrical shock. If we want, we can just zat all the Secret Service Agents and the NID." Sam grinned a nasty smile. Mitchell never knew Sam had an evil streak. She was one tough woman.

"I think we should call it a night. I'm going to bed." Landry got up and left.


Back on Lady Anna's homeworld, her two maids sat together, terrified. Earlier that day, Palace Security arrested them for treason. They were accused of plotting to assassinate Lady Anna. Most of the day passed in medical chambers. They were forced to relive the last two years of their lives. Two years takes time to relive. So, according to their interrogator, it could be a quick confession, or a long exercise. Of course, brain damage was the least of their problems if they were guilty. No one cared about that. Their families were in jeopardy for this crime as well. Commonwealth justice didn't stop with the perpetrator.

"I didn't do it, I swear. I love My Lady. I would never betray her." The first one was weeping. The second one hung her head. She was exhausted.

"Let's be clear. We have a sarcophagus. You can die many times. So, if you want to save yourself some trouble, let's hear the truth. And don't think we can't tell if you are lying to save yourself some pain by confessing and you didn't do it. We'll figure it out. Eventually." The Interrogator gave them a nasty look.

"Let's be clear," answered the second one. She was exhausted and in pain. "Nothing will save us. You will do it all anyway and then make an example of us even if you find nothing." She passed out. The other one wept harder.

"Is that true? You would do that?" The first one was getting hysterical. "I didn't do anything wrong. You can probably make me say anything. But it doesn't change a thing. I am innocent."

Technicians monitoring her physical readings were fairly certain. She was telling the truth. It had to be the other one. Sometimes, threats were much more persuasive than any act itself. The commander of the facility turned to the doctor in charge. "Concentrate on the second one. But leave the first in her cell. We know leaks came from her closest servants. These two are good candidates after today's events. We've been feeding them misinformation for weeks. She appears to be telling the truth, but a good agent can do that. Her trail could have been wiped. Revive the second one and begin again. We are going to find the conspirators. No one can try to assassinate Our Great Lady and get away with it."


On Earth, Jack was tired too. He sat in a really beautiful house by the ocean. He had used the GPS in his watch to figure out where he was. One moment he was in the White House, in Washington. Now he was in a tropical paradise. Lady Anna excused herself to change out of her blood stained gown. An attendant showed Jack to his room. There were cooler clothes on the bed and swimming apparel. Jack looked in the closet to find he had more clothing. The drawers were filled too. They thought of everything for him. He took a shower and changed. It had been a long day, but he wasn't ready to sleep. So, Jack walked out to the veranda. A warm breeze blew the curtains fluttering from the windows. Lady Anna joined him.

"Nice. You know, you really are a clotheshorse, Anna. But I like you better in pink," Jack snarked at her. "So what nasty arsenal have you put in that get up? Turn around, I want the whole view." She was draped seductively in diaphanous pastel painted silk. Anna gave him a look and wandered off serenely. Though she was fully clothed, he could still imagine her naked. He reminded himself that she was probably old enough to be his grandmother. Anna kept him off balance, second-guessing himself. He hated himself for it. Then, his phone rang.

"What?" Jack barked into the phone. "Daniel? That you?"

"Um, yes, Jack." Daniel voice came through clearly.

"What do you want?" Jack sat down in a soft chair, listening to the ocean surf.

"They revived all three dead guys. But it is touch and go with one of the agents. And the assailant is still critical." Daniel talked rapidly. "Jack, these aren't regular phones. They are Commonwealth phones. Take a look." Daniel paused. "So, what is it like where you are now? Maybe we can figure out where you are."

"It's hot and humid. I saw palm trees. And it's mid-afternoon." Jack looked around for other signs. "It's a nice house too."

"Well, that narrows it down. You are probably in the Pacific, maybe west of Tahiti." Daniel offered. "Can you see the ocean?"

"Got nothing but ocean, Daniel. Lots and lots of ocean." A servant arrived with a cold beer. "Sweet. Thanks."

"You're welcome."

"What?"

"You just said you're welcome."

"You thanked me."

"Not you, someone brought me a cold drink." Jack quaffed the beer.

"You could thank me sometimes, you know. I did figure out where you are."

"No you didn't. The Pacific is a big ocean." Jack drank some more. "Look, I've had a long day. She isn't going anywhere for a while. I think I'll have a swim and turn in. I'll check in tomorrow."

"Ok, bye." Daniel hung up. Daniel turned to Sam, "Well, at least we can talk to him."


Talk and more talk. In the White House, the doctors finished bandaging President Hayes. One of his ribs was broken. He looked like he had aged ten years that day. The day had been a disaster.

"What I don't get is why you think she would try to kill me like that, George. She can obviously come and go even through that force field. Look at all the presents and people she brought through. The shield doesn't stop her. If she wanted to kill me, she could do it anytime and without the publicity." Hayes grunted in pain. The nurse came in with painkillers. Hayes reached out and swallowed them without water.

"Maybe that's what she wanted, the publicity." Hammond replied. "Removing the bodies just covered up the evidence. Maybe it has to do with what she is really after here."

"You're losing it, George. That makes no sense. She is definitely up to something more than saving her ass. She doesn't care about O'Neill. That's her ploy. But I do think she wants him to help her catch her own bad guys. If we can help her, it helps us." He motioned to the doctor. "That's good enough, please, just stop."

"What if there is a third group? Not the Goa'uld, not the Commonwealth, maybe the Trust? They had contact with the Goa'uld and some pretty scary research. Maybe they want it to look like the Goa'uld did it." Hammond shook his head.

"George, you are one devious fellow. You are going to have to oversee this operation. No arguments." Hayes nodded to the Secret Service Agents and the Air Force SFs. "I got a call from General Landry, George. We think some of our own guys are still compromised." Hayes stood up. "Maybe we should rotate all the Agents. I want a clean slate around here before you come back, Friday."

"Yes, sir, my thoughts as well. And I'll have the SGC send a detail to do another sweep. But, I'll stay tomorrow, sir. You need me here." Hammond was sad he would not get home for Thanksgiving.

"Thanks, George." Hayes walked out.


News reports all over the globe carried the images of the President getting shot in the White House. Many of the state run media around the world picked-up the speculation that the aliens had pulled a fast one. Some reports didn't speculate. Al-jazeerah reported that President Hayes was dead and his alien replacement was now in power. The Singapore Straits Times ran the stories on their front pages. XM Radio commentators added to the media frenzy. Even the Drudge Report blog jumped into the fray. The Internet was swarming with conspiracy theories. Cartoon editorials went for the jugular showing O'Neill corrupting Lady Anna in zero gravity while her ships were circling Earth. The caption read, "Who's doing whom?" By the time Washington awakened the next morning, chaos and hysteria all over the world was out of control.
On the other side of the world from Washington, President Mikhailov of the Russian Federation flipped the channel back to CNN. He hated getting up in the middle of the night. But this was worth it. Those arrogant Americans had just imploded. He shook his head. They never learned to control information. And, it finally proved their undoing. He flipped the channel again. Hysteria was on the rise. People were saying that President Hayes was dead, replaced with an alien. There would be little reason left in the world come sunrise.

The Russian President made a decision. More was at work here than met the eye. Someone was orchestrating this mess. Maybe many someones were at it. It was a good bet that the disgruntled faction at the U.N. was working overtime to smear the Americans. In addition, the regional fanatics were jumping in with both feet. President Mikhailov had no love for those folks. They were trouble any which way you looked at it. Someone had to sit on this, and soon. The last thing this planet needed was open conflict.

President Mikhailov summoned his chief of staff. He ordered his intelligence units to begin taking down those cells already targeted in an emergency. He would have those fanatic leaders understand they would rather not start in on Russia. Then he ordered his own media to air stories positive to Lady Anna and the White House reception to counter the irresponsible foreign press. Whatever assets could be brought to bear on other journalists would have to wait. For Russia's cooperation, the United States would pay through the nose. It would start by sharing the Stargate completely. The Russian President decided to demand that Hayes convince Lady Anna to meet with him in Russia. He would show her where civilized people on this planet lived. Russia would not play second banana anymore.


In another time zone, way out in the Pacific Ocean, the day started early for those on Eastern Standard Time. It was still dark when the servants roused the sleeping dignitaries. They had appointments to keep in other locales.

"Get up, sir." Lady Anna's butler gently shook Jack awake. For a moment, Jack was confused. Then he remembered. It was Thanksgiving morning, somewhere. It was the middle of the night here. President Hayes expected them back at the White House for dinner. He padded to the bathroom to start the day. After dressing in swimming trunks and a shirt, he walked into the living area to get his breakfast. Coffee smelled good. Lady Anna was already at the table. She was sniffing at a cup of coffee.

"Didn't expect to see you so soon, ma'am." Jack didn't know whether or not to join her. Considering the monumental insult she received last night, he went for caution. "May I join you, ma'am?" She indicated the chair opposite. Lady Anna gently lifted a cup and saucer to pour in the steaming hot black liquid. He watched her gracefully handle the china. That was some gorgeous woman. Jack looked around. Maybe today would be better. She offered him the cup and saucer. He smiled and accepted it. She went back to sniffing her cup. He regarded her silently and drank a long pull.

"It smells better than it tastes." Anna remarked. She set the cup down.

"Uh, yes, funny about that. Did you like it?" Jack drank some more.

"Not really. But I was curious. I have heard so much about it." She reached out for some water to clear her palate. The water tasted strange.

"Did you try it with cream and sugar?" Jack offered the little containers of each to her. She shook her head. "Here, allow me. My wife used to like it this way." He poured two teaspoons of sugar and most of the cream. Then he stirred and offered it back to her. She accepted it delicately. Anna sniffed it again and drank.

"Much better. I like this." Anna drank some more. It had a stimulant in it. "Interesting." Hmm, these people were simply addicted to it. She set the cup down and waited silently. They regarded each other. Jack took a croissant and tore it. He offered her half. Then he offered her a jam assortment. She looked confused. He wondered how all these Earth foods came in the right combination. Were they in a hotel?

"Here, let me. We call this a croissant. And this is strawberry guava jam. It's from a fruit." He prepared her plate and offered it back. She accepted with a nod and a look of anticipation. This could be good, thought Jack. He prepared his own plate using orange marmalade. "Go ahead. It's good." He bit into his and washed it down with more coffee. She watched how he did it and did the same. The flavor of the tropical fruit infused her senses. Her eyes opened wide. O'Neill saw it and chuckled. "We have lots of things like this, ma'am. You'd be surprised." He looked at the table setting. "Ah, fresh fruit, try some of this." He offered the bowl of cutfruit. She hesitated. Nothing was recognizable. She looked back at him with a question in her eyes. Her eyes are so expressive, Jack thought. He nodded for her to go ahead. She used the fork to put some on a small dish and gently set the bowl back where it had been. Anna tried the green round piece with the black seeds, first. Again she was delighted. "Kiwi," explained Jack. "And those pink chunks are papaya, and the yellow slices are mango." She tried each of them.

"Wonderful. Thank you, My Lord General." Anna set her fork down. The next few minutes she let him eat. Obviously, he was enjoying his food. After he had finished, she spoke again. "You will instruct me on today's significance?"

"Um, sure. We celebrate being fortunate to have enough. We show our thanks by having a great feast. The basic menu is usually the same for everyone. Most of the foods are from our part of the world. It's good." Jack wished he had a TV to watch the Macy's parade in New York. "And we have parades."

"I don't think everyone on your world has enough, My Lord." Lady Anna said sadly.

"No, I suppose not. But we are trying. You could help us with that." Jack poured himself some more coffee.

"In time," Anna answered. "Jack, do you think your people are ready for what we really have to offer?"

He thought about it for a moment and shrugged. "Probably not. At least not all at once." Anna nodded. At least he had some vision. "Why do you ask?"

"I wanted to know how you viewed the situation. You have shown me your wisdom, My Lord General. I am glad to know you understand the problem is complex." She spoke gently to him. "My Lord, I have bad news for you." She paused and saw him tense. "Your world is not reacting well to last night. There is much unrest because of those events."

"I wouldn't worry about it too much, ma'am." Jack stirred his cup. "There are always ignorant people who get excited for a few days and then forget about it."

"There are large numbers of your population who believe I tried to kill your leader. Do you have these suspicions?" She had to know if she could trust him anymore. Jack looked at her and smiled.

"No, I don't. It makes no sense. You could kill any of us anytime and no one would know you did it. Isn't that right, ma'am?" He gave her a patient attitude. Careful fella, she is fishing. Anna shrugged. Of course he was correct.

"My Lord, the media reports the President really died and was replaced by one of my subordinates. People are demanding my death." She looked at his face. "What do they mean by replaced?" Did these primitives understand the use of body doubles genetically altered to look exactly like the real thing?

Jack sighed. "Ma'am, we have movies, audio-visual theatre, that tell stories of aliens switching places with humans here to take over the world. The media is playing on the fears of ignorant people to make money. Don't worry about it. Stuff like this happens all the time. It will blow over." He hoped it would blow over. This time there really were aliens and they probably did want to take over the world.

DISCLAIMER: "Stargate SG-1" and "Stargate Atlantis" and their characters are the property of Sony Pictures MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, Gekko Film Corp., Showtime/Viacom and USA Networks, Inc. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended against this or any other story in the universe. The original characters, situations and story are the property of the author(s), and may not be republished or archived elsewhere without the author's permission.